A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday to ban Russian oil imports to the United States as the White House indicated it would not back such an effort.
Sens. Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski introduced the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, which would prohibit importing crude oil, petroleum, and other energy products from Russia for the duration of the conflict. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Brian Fitzpatrick of the Problem Solvers Caucus will introduce companion legislation in the House. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would support a ban on Russian oil imports earlier Thursday.
At a press conference, Manchin, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said, “We’re coming together out of support for Ukraine.”
PELOSI BACKS BAN ON RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS
“Energy has become a weapon of war for Putin,” Manchin said, adding that the bill would ban these imports in an effort to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine.
“Hopefully, he will understand the economics of this to his country, the detriments of this to his country,” Manchin said of Putin.
Murkowski said there has been a “flurry” of bills introduced to support Ukraine and deter Putin but that theirs is bipartisan, “so it has some legs.”
“This is actually something that can make a difference, that could get Putin’s attention,” she said.
But White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday that President Joe Biden’s objective “has been to maximize impact on President Putin and Russia while minimizing impact to us and our allies and partners.”
“We don’t have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy, and that would raise prices at the gas pump for the American people around the world because it would reduce the supply available,” Psaki said.
Manchin addressed Psaki’s comments, arguing the White House “is so wrong” on the issue.
“Talk about an inconvenience? Imagine if you lived in Ukraine right now,” Manchin said, arguing there are other sources of oil.
Manchin said he would personally be willing to pay 10 cents more a gallon for gas if that is what it takes to support the people of Ukraine.
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Asked if that’s a fair message to people coping with inflation, Manchin said, “Inflation is a tax. This is war.”
